To promote bilingual education and enhance students’ international competitiveness, National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) held the “NTNU EMI Fair” on March 5 as part of the university’s new Laburnum Festival, attracting enthusiastic participation from faculty and students across all colleges. The fair was jointly organized by the Office of Bilingual Education and the Offices of Academic Affairs, in collaboration with all 9 colleges of the university, offering insights into the application and advantages of English-Mediated Instruction (EMI) in academic and career development through EMI-based courses, activities, and experience sharing.
President Wu Encourages Students to Embrace EMI Learning
During the event, NTNU President Cheng-chih Wu emphasized that the fair integrates internationalization, bilingual education, and interdisciplinary learning, encouraging students to embrace bilingual learning environments and build a solid foundation for future global competitiveness. Vice President for Academic Affairs Mei-hui Liu highlighted that the Laburnum Festival showcased NTNU’s achievements in bilingual education and internationalization. This year’s NTNU EMI Fair and related events further help students familiarize themselves with EMI courses, enhance their academic English proficiency, and expand their global perspectives. She stressed that NTNU has become a leading bilingual university in Taiwan and encouraged students to make full use of the university’s resources to bravely pursue their dreams.
Students and Faculty Share EMI Learning Experiences
Reuben Tang, a master’s student in the English program, shared how he utilized NTNU’s resources to enhance his EMI learning experience. He admitted that despite his English proficiency, academic discussions and paper writing were still challenging. However, the Center for Academic Literacy (CAL) and English Chatroom significantly supported his learning. Through writing and speaking consultations, his academic expression skills improved greatly, boosting his confidence. He encouraged fellow students to actively participate and make good use of resources to continuously progress in EMI courses.
Julia Chen, a senior from the Department of Special Education, shared her experiences as both an EMI student and a teaching assistant. She noted that while all-English courses were challenging, her listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills improved significantly through pre-study and active participation in discussions. Serving as a teaching assistant made her realize that “daring to speak and being unafraid of making mistakes” are key to adapting to EMI courses. She encouraged students to immerse themselves in English learning environments to enhance their academic and career competitiveness.
EMI Learning is More Accessible than One May Imagine
Sonya Liu and Ilya Chen, assistants at CAL, noted that EMI courses not only improve students’ English proficiency but also align their professional knowledge with global standards. However, challenges remain, such as low student participation and the difficulty professors face in teaching specialized content in English. To address these, CAL offers academic English writing and speaking consultations to help students prepare for class presentations, academic speeches, and English interviews, enabling them to confidently engage in academic communication.
Professor Tsu-yi Fu from the Department of Physics pointed out that some students are initially resistant to EMI courses, fearing that all-English instruction would increase their academic burden. However, many students found the difficulty level manageable after taking the courses and gradually adapted to the EMI environment. She also revealed that the Department of Physics will launch an international program next semester to encourage students to improve their English communication skills and expand their academic development on a global scale.
Through the NTNU EMI Fair, NTNU showcased its achievements in EMI education and encouraged students to embrace bilingual learning. Many faculty members and students shared their EMI experiences, emphasizing that EMI courses not only improve English proficiency but also broaden global perspectives and align professional knowledge with international standards. As EMI courses and resources continue to develop, NTNU aims to create a more comprehensive bilingual learning environment and cultivate future talents with global competitiveness.
